Post plastic ban, almost half of city consumers carry own shopping bags

A random survey conducted by TOI among 115 households found that 51.3% of them now carry their own bags on a regular basis for all their shopping, up from 16% before the ban.TNN | May 09, 2016, 08:57 IST

BENGALURU: Grocery stores have seen a surge in the number of customers bringing their own carry bags, following the ban on plastic bags in Karnataka.

Other kinds of stores have also seen an increase, but less so.

Grocery outlets of Reliance, Nilgiri's and More said that 40-50% of their consumers now carry their own cloth bags, compared to about 5-10% prior to the ban.

A random survey conducted by TOI among 115 households found that 51.3% of them now carry their own bags on a regular basis for all their shopping, up from 16% before the ban.

There are two big reasons for this. The first is that cloth and paper bags are expensive. Nilgiri's and More said they used to procure plastic bags for Rs 2 to Rs 4, but now pay Rs 12 to Rs 15 for cloth bags. Itsy Bitsy ,a craft and stationery store, used to procure its plastic bags for Rs 4, but now gets paper bags at R 10. Most grocery and stationery stores pass on the cost of the bags to the customers. In TOI's survey , only 1.8% said that they would take a bag if it was priced over Rs 10.

The second reason is that paper bags are not durable and carry the risk of tearing. A sales staff at a Max fashion store, which has shifted from its signature blue and white plastic bag to a paper bag, said the paper bags are not as strong as the previous plastic bags and so are very inconvenient for customers. The manager of Asma, a store that deals in ethnic wear, said their new paper bags could not hold many clothes as they tore easily. TOI's survey too found that an overwhelming majority, 92.9%, objected to paper bags on the grounds that they tear easily and are not water proof. Some disapproved of them because they involve cutting trees.

There is also growing awareness regarding the environmental damage caused by plastic. At a Reliance store, TOI met a lady shopper who was carrying her own bag. She said this was a habit with her even before the plastic ban. She said she is a counsellor in a school and she teaches children to minimize their use of plastic.

The number of those bringing their owns bags to garment stores, stationery stores and food joints too has risen, but not as much as in grocery . Big brands like Max, Westside, Health & Glow and Sapna Book House said around 20-30% of their customers now bring their own bags, as against 5% earlier. Niveditha, who was purchasing books at Landmark, was carrying her own cloth bag. She said she started the practice when the plastic ban came into effect.